The Ultimate Guide for Choosing the Right Kayak

In a sit-on-top kayak, the paddler sits above the waterline. Many newcomers to kayaking feel more secure in sit-on-top kayaks, so they’re a great choice if the watercraft will be used by a variety of people with varying skill sets (like at the cottage, for example). Hull designs have vastly improved, making them much more enjoyable over long distances compared to other alternatives. In general, this boat style is also easier to climb into and out of throughout your excursions. It’s also easier for folks to climb back in if they do happen to capsize. They cannot fill with water either, making them very safe since they are always floating, even when turned upside down.

However, the main drawback of sit-on-top kayaks is the lack of dry storage space. While they often offer storage areas with bungee rigging, you’ll need to purchase an extra dry bag if you want to bring anything along that absolutely can’t get wet.

In a sit-in kayak, the paddler sits below the waterline, making these kayaks faster and easier to paddle. With more keel below the waterline, navigating in straight lines is more accessible, even when facing rougher waters and winds. Sit-in kayaks come with the advantage of a drier journey. Their higher gunwales (sides) help shield you from the wind, waves, and splashes, making them more enjoyable to paddle in the spring and fall. Aside from comfort, sit-in kayaks typically offer a larger dry storage capacity since their interior is sealed to provide extra buoyancy. With the plastic in the cockpit area cut out, these boats are also lighter — which is very handy for getting them on and off your car’s roof rack.

On the other hand, sit-in kayaks can be more challenging to handle, especially for beginners. Many of them are designed for speed, which means they are narrower. This decreased width can often lead to less stability, which can intimidate inexperienced paddlers and cause them to worry about capsizing when they should enjoy the waters!

Kayaks need enough surface area (length + width) to hold the paddler's weight. Shorter models are often broader to create enough surface area, making them slightly harder to paddle. As you move up to a 10-foot boat, the increased length adds enough surface area to narrow the watercraft. This makes them faster and easier to paddle, even in harsher conditions. Plus, at 10 feet, kayaks are still a manageable length to load and carry. Longer boats are faster and easier to paddle in waves and wind due to their longer keel line. As you increase to a 12-foot length, the watercraft becomes even quicker and more efficient. Generally speaking, a 10 to 12-foot kayak is perfect for many conditions and waterways.

For kids, on the other hand, the width and weight of the average kayak can make them challenging to paddle. Pelican has developed a series of kids’ kayaks explicitly tailored for young paddlers to fill this void. With safety top of mind, these are more stable and substantially shorter, making them easier to handle and maneuver.

A boat built with lightweight materials will be easier to mount on top of your car and easier to carry down to the water. Getting their watercraft to the water can cause significant headaches for many new kayaking enthusiasts. Unfortunately, the lighter the materials — the more expensive the boat, with one exception. Pelican’s proprietary design technology allows them to consistently make the most lightweight watercraft on the market at a price that won’t hurt your pocket. Pelican’s RAM-X™ material is known for its high-impact resistance, so you can enjoy your boat for years to come.